Preparations for the demolition of the Fabens-Caseta Bridge are in place as the opening of the Tornillo-Guadalupe international bridge is on the horizon.

El Paso County Commissioners Court on Monday approved an agreement with Structural Engineering Associates Inc., to document the bridge's history and to test it for hazardous materials while also devising a plan for demolition of the Fabens-Caseta Bridge.

The move was just a formality as the bridge, which is owned by the federal government and operated by the International Boundary and Water Commission, has already been designated for demolition one year after the new bridge opens, which should be by the end of this year.

The Fabens-Caseta bridge is a two-lane bridge that will make way for the six-lane international bridge, which cost about $133 million to build on the U.S. side.

El Paso County and state officials will have a public meeting at 6 p.m. today at 1331 N. Fabens in Fabens to update the public on the second phase of construction that will connect Interstate-10 to the Tornillo-Guadalupe international bridge.

Commissioner Vince Perez, who represents Precinct 3, where the bridge is located, said the important thing was an update on the construction of the Mexican side of the bridge — which is nearly complete after multiple delays.

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"I always said that once they get started (on the Mexican side) it was going to go up pretty quick," Perez said. "They don't have as much of a lengthy process when it comes to permits and other items."

Perez said he is breathing a sigh of relief now that the project is almost complete after more than a decade of planning.